Washing appliance adapted to the blower portions of a vacuum cleaner device



April 14, 1936. H. MARAN-rz 2,037,525

WASHING APPLIANCE ADAPTED TO THE BLOWER PORTIONS OF' A VAGUUMl CLEANERDEVICE 4 W NN @enum mslwii l INVENTOR ATTORNEY 272s ze s so sx 'sz April14, 1936. MARANTZ 2,037,525

wAsHINC APPLIANCEADAPTED To THE BLowER roRTloNs 0E A VACUUM CLEANERDEVICE C `Filed Oct.A 28, 1952 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 575625 25 la' \e 5s A14! 54 sugli.

M I lNVENTOR 'BY-MIC.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1.936

PATENT o'FFlcE WASHING APPLIANCE ADAPTED T THE BLOWER PORTIONS 0F AVACUUM CLEANER. DEVICE Israel H. Marantz, New York, N. Y., assigner ofseventy-five per cent to L.- Stewart Gatter,

New York, N. Y.

, Application October 28, v1932, Serial No. 640,034

I 4 Claims.

My invention relates to washing machines, and particularly to that classin which a fan operated vacuum cleaning machine is used to agitate thewashing liquid. Whereas in. the past, vacuum cleaning machines were usedto operate reciprocating mechanisms which in turn agitated the washingliquid, it is my aim to directly circulate the air through the washingliquid, in a manner fully described below, thus providing an efcientmethod of ,washing clothes, dishes, etc.. without using any other movingparts than those already incorporated in the vacuum cleaning machine.

, It is an object of my invention toprovide an inexpensive washingdevice, thereby increasing the utility of the vacuum cleaning machine.It is a further object of my invention to provide a portable washingmachine that can be placed upon a stove and the .water heated, that canreadily be filled and drained,"that can be adjusted to vary the degreeof agitation, and that can dry the clothes, all as substantiallyherelnaftershown and described. Other and further objects will hereafterappear. 4

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectionof my washing device showing the vacuum cleaning machine in position.Figure 2 is a plan view of the same without the vacuum cleaningmachinein position to i more clearly disclose the construction.v Figures3 and 5 are transverse vertical sections cfa. modiiication of the same.Figure 4 shows the application of the washing device where-thereceptacle is replaced by an ordinary-tub. Figure 5 is a section'showing an application of my washing device.

The invention comprises a cylindrical receptacleor container I-,made of.suitable material to hold a quantity'of uid in which the articles to becleansed are immersed.- and cover 2,

for closing this receptacle so as to make it prac-f tically air tight;this being accomplished byA means of clamping arrangements 4, l, 6, and1; hereafter designated as the cover clamping device, compressing gasket3 at convenient points along the periphery of the cover. In the cover.

clamping device, the semi-eliptical steel spring 5 is pivoted in stud 4which -is secured to the cover by screw 1' through gasket 2 (cover isheld tight against receptacle rim by additional force exerted when airis sucked from underside of'cover); the spring l is elongated bycam I,using rim 4I as a fulcrum, thereby compressing gasket l, between the'cover 2 and receptacle I. This means of tightly fastening the cover 2 toreceptacle I is used to make possible the use oran (Cl. (S8-37)inexpensive cover and container. It is obvious that the clamping devicewill vary with the type of cover and container used, such changesindesign cannot materially effect the workings of my Washing device.Attached to cover 2, is-suction head 9, which passes through hole 8 andis secured to cover 2, by means of locknut Il compressing gasket 32thereby making the joint tight. Locknut l I is arranged with slots I2thus providing a continuous passageway between the interior of thereceptacle I, and opening 44 in suction head 9. Baiile plate I9 issecured to locknut I I, by means of a screw.

Centrally located at the bottom of the receptacle I is an invertedU,shaped ring, hereinafter referred to as the agitating ring 30 whichisspaced from the bottom of the receptacle by means of legs or spacers33 fastened or soldered to agitating ring 30. Threaded tube 29 istightly secured to agitating ring 30 by means of set screw 3 and passesthrough receptacle (this set screw l arrangement makes it possible tofacilitate cleaning recents cle and ring) through hole 21 and is isecured to the receptacle by means of locknuts 28 compressing gaskets32'. `Threaded tube 29 is.

arranged to receive hose coupling 23 to which ilexiblehose or tube 25 istightly connected. At the other end of hose 25 is fastened another hosecoupling 23, both being interchangeable, to which is connected the airflow regulation or relief valve I8, which can be regulated by sliding ofsolid disc I9 about thumb screw 20 disclosing more or less of opening 49in the air iiow regulator I8. The air now regulator is arranged withsetscrews 22 and thumb screw 2l to it any diameter of vacuum cleaningmachine discharge, the joint being made tight by means of gasket 24. The

suction end or nozzle 41 of the vacuum cleaning `machine is tightlysecured to suction head 9 by means of thumb screwv I5 screwingy down onsuction end 41 through clamp I6 which is pivoted to suction head 9through bolts I1. Clamp I6 swings about I1 ymaking it easy to removesuction uum cleaning machine I4, after being operated, Without the dustbag, a short time to clear the machine of any latent dust is ready to beused in the washing cycle. 'Ihe suction nozzle 41 is placed on suctionhead 9 so that it completely cover." opening 44, then is clamped intoposition by means of thumb screws I5. Likewise, air ow 1 egulator I8 istightly fastened into position by tightening thumb screw 2I, set screwsthe receptacle, approximately 1 inches.

22 being preset for the size of discharge opening. The washing machineis now readyfor use. The cover 2 is removed with the vacuum cleaningmachine attached, the material to be cleansed is inserted in thereceptacle and water added, either 4by pouring the'water over the opentop of the receptacle I or else by means of flexible tube 25 to theheight of the water line I0 in However, if too much water has been addedthe surplus can readily be drained by means of flexible tube 25, whichwhen not in use is hooked on handle 34 by means of hose hook 26 toprevent draining of contents. The use of same tube for air ow anddrainis fool-proof against draining while machine is in washingoperation.

With receptacle I now filled with water and washing uid to the properlevel cover 2 together with the attached 'vacuumv cleaning machine I4 isclamped into position through its clamping device and .flexible tube 25is coupled to the air flow regulator I8 through coupling 23. The vacuumcleaning machine I4 is then started effecting the recirculation of airand steam in the following manner. Air andsteam is drawn from the upperportion of the receptacle I into the vacuum cleaning machine throughsuction head 9, and discharged through` opening 49 forcing the air andsteam through air iiow regulator I8 down tube 25 and into the agitatingring 30, air then being forced out at varying points along its insideedge' 5I and outside edge 52, returning air and steam to the upperportion of receptacle I thru the washing fluid and contents. of theagitating ring 30 throws the material and washing uid toward the centerof` receptacle I while the air leaving the inside edge 5I throws thematerial and washing fluid toward the receptacle wall, thereby lgiving ato and fro motion to the contents, in addition to the action of the airin its vertical travel, forcing soap -suds thru the material; thislatter action thoroughly looses the dirt from pores of the materialwhile the former Washes the dirt from the material and keeps it insuspension to be removed when the washing -liquid is thoroughlydiscarded. It is desirable to vary the force of this agitation, makingit weaker for ne fabrics and stronger for heavier and coarses fabrics,and for vthis purpose the air flow regulator I8 was devised. The.operation of the air flow regulator is simple; thumb screw isunloosened allowing a lateral motion to valve disc I9, as this valvedisc is slided to expose more of opening 49, less air reaches theagitating ring 30, passing less air through'the receptacle; likewise asless of the opening 49 is exposed, more air reaches the agivtating ringpassing more air through the contents and the receptacle causing moreagitation as described. Furthermore, when vacuum cleaning machines aretoo powerful, a vpressure is built up in theffan casing-which cannotbeentirely relieved by the agitating ring 1n which case air and steamtend to leak out from other The air leaving the outside edge 52 sources,such as fan bearings, etc.; to avoid this the air ow regulator I8, canbe used as a relief valve by adjusting valve disc I9, until any suchleaks if present are eliminated. Baiile plate Il is used to avoid anexcess of washing liquid from being carried over into the vacuum.cleaning machine. Y Y

I find that approximately 15 minutes, more or less, is required for acomplete washing operation, depending upon the nature of the materialsbeing washed, the cleansing agent used and whether hot or boiling wateris used. The washing operation completed, the ilexible tube isdisconnected from the vacuum cleaning machine, at the regulator end, andthe water drained through 25, and rinse water added. The

rinsing operation is accomplished in the same manner as the washingvoperation. The rinsing can be repeated as often as desired for best re'V sults, the vacuum cleaning machine being op-v lexcept that suctionhead 9 is arranged to be unscrewed from coupling 35 which is secured tocover 2 by means of locknut II and gasket 3'2. By this means air flowregulator I8 can be interchanged with suction head 9. With air flowregulator in newposition shown it becomes possible to damp dry theclothing as follows: Prior to the washing operation previously fullydescribed, the coarsely woven wire disc 9B is secured to agitating ring30 by means of screws 53. The introduction of this coarsely woven discdoes not effect the washing operation as described. Likewise thematerial is trououghly washed, rinsed and water drained as fullyscribed. The suction head 9 is then removed and replaced by air flowregulator I8 and the vacuum cleaning machine fastened to I8 bytightening thumb screw 2|, leaving suction nozzle 41 exposed to theatmosphere.' The valve disc I9 is kept in a closed position. Thervacuumcleaning machine is started, forcing dry air into the upper part of thereceptacle I. 'Ihis air pressure compressed the clothes against wiredisc 98 thereby forcing the water down and out through drain hose 25.Continued operation of the vacuum cleaning machine causes fresh dry airto pass through the material carrying the moisture along with it. Theldegree of drying depends entirely upon the temperature and quantity ofair passed through the material.

As stated, Figure 4 'shows the application of theby an ordinary' tub.'I'he arrangement of parts and principle of operation remain the same,ex-

cept rigid tube 39 replaces flexible tube 2l since draining is no longera problem. with arrangements on tube 39 so that it rigidly keeps theagitating ring in position. Likewise, that the agitating ring must beincreased in size and I find that for best results, the agitating ringshouldA be about one fifteenth the working volume: by working yvolumebeing meant the space occupied by the vwashing liquid and contents, theworking volume never exceeding two thirds the total volux'ne of thecontainer.

-cial type vacuum cleaner, I may utilize my gen-- 1 eralv structure ofthe cleaner or working portion with a motor blower or air circulatingdevice especially built for the particular-receptacle and adapted to bemounted and connected to the cover thereof in lieu and in place of theblower portion of any commercial vacuum cleaner device.

What I claim and d sire to secure by United States Letters Patent is.:

1. A washing appliance adapted for combination with the blower portionof a vacuum cleaning device, comprising a washing receptacle, a coverfor said receptacle, a suction chamber in said cover in communicationwith the receptacle, means for supporting said vacuum cleaning device bysaid cover and for connecting the suction nozzle of said vacuum cleaningdevice to saidy suction chamber, tubular means for connecting thedischarge outlet of said vacuum cleaning device to an inlet in the lowerportion of said receptacle. l

2. A washing appliance adapted for combination with the blower portionof a vacuum cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 characterized by anauxiliary air iiow regulator relief valve disposed in-said tubular meansconnected to the discharge side of said cleaner.

3. A washing appliance adapted for combination with the blower portionof a vacuum clean# i ing device as claimed in claim 1 characterized byan air agitator and circulating plate ring centrally disposed at thebottom of said receptacle and in spaced relationship therewith adaptedto circulate the air both centrally the receptacle and circumferentiallythereof.

4. A washing appliance adapted for combination with the blower portionof a suction producing device, a receptacle, a substantially air tightreceptacle cover, an air baille plate spaced inwardly of said cover, asuction chamber in said cover, means yfor supporting and positioning a.

suction producing device on said cover with the suction nozzle thereofconnected to said suction chamben' an auxiliary air flow regulatorrelief`

